News
Author discusses 'Skull in the Ashes' at Vinton library
More than 40 area residents gathered in the Vinton library on Thursday to hear more about one of Benton County’s most famous crime cases.
Author Peter Kaufman discussed his book, “Skull in the Ashes,” which tells of how Walford businessman Frank Novak committed a murder, then tried to make it look like he himself had died in the fire so his wife could collect $27,000 in insurance money. Pavilion, path take shape at Celebration Park
Work continues at Celebration Park, where construction crews are finishing the pavilion and concrete crews are creating and paving the walking path. as well as parking areas.
Winnie Hawks visit Vinton area
Thanks to the work of local leaders including Nancy Beckman, Vinton was able to welcome another tour group recently.
The Winnie Hawks, a club of Winnebago RV owners from throughout Iowa, made their fall tour recently, stopping at several area sites. They visited the Depot, where Phl Borlesky gave them a tour and a brief history of the local railroad service. Pink Night: Vikings, fans raise $461 to fight breast cancer, honor survivors
Continuing a tradition that started with the Vikettes basketball team a few years ago, the Vinton-Shellsburg football team held its Pink Night on the first Friday of Breast Cancer Month.
Approximately 160 V-S students and fans purchased pink t-shirts, with the proceeds going toward the Virginia Gay Hospital mammography service. Several breast cancer survivors received recognition before the game, and a few joined the Viking captains for the coin toss. More than 30 sign up for first VSHS bowling team; volunteer coach still needed
The Vinton High School Bowling team is kicking off their fundraising with cool bowling t-shirts for everyone. We have bowling shirt order forms available at Tharp Design, V-S High School and Berry's Lanes.
Being a recognized sport and not a school sponsored sport, the team needs to fund raise to cover all of their expenses.
Honoring 'Chief': VFD sculpture honors former Chief Dave Hite, others
Most of the members of the Vinton Fire Department gathered at the fire station on Wednesday night to honor former Chief Dave Hite.
The new chainsaw carving, entitled Chief, has been on display outside the fire station since the end of the Iowa Firefighter's Association Convention. A plaque on the sculpture includes a quote firefighters remember Dave telling them in 1980s when he was Chief: "Drive slow and dress warm. Local Motocross racer Austin Kemp is points champ in two events
Austin Kemp listened last year as his dad, Corey, discussed the hobby of go-cart racing.
But as he thought about sitting in a small car, with all four tires hugging the track and both feet securely inside the vehicle, one word came to mind: Boring.
He decided that motocross -- with hills and jumps and other opportunities to race with space between him and the track -- sounded much more fun. Norton shares inspirational story of recovery at Fields of Faith event
For the seventh consecutive year a Fields of Faith event was held in La Porte City.
An estimated crowd of over 700 gathered on the Union football field to hear messages from young champions in the surrounding area. Special guest Chris Norton gave an inspirational message about his response to what happened to him when he received a spinal cord injury during a football kickoff at Luther College in 2010. Reality Check: New name for VSHS student group
By Shania Heckmann, VSHS Junior
At the high school, we have our own coalition group called Reality Check. We have been called many things before, but now, we are hoping that this name will stick to us. Over the last few years of me being in high school, my freshmen year there was only 2 members, sophomore year there was 4 steady members, and we did a couple out of town activities.
'Skull in the Ashes;' Author of local crime history book to visit Vinton Oct. 3
On a February night in 1897, the general store in Walford, Iowa, burned down. The next morning, townspeople discovered a charred corpse in the ashes. Everyone knew that the store’s owner, Frank Novak, had been sleeping in the store as a safeguard against burglars. Now all that remained were a few of his personal items scattered under the body.